1951 in radio

The year 1951 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events

4 March – Sir John Gielgud appears in the role of Hamlet on The United States Steel Hour.
29 May – Radio Nacional de España opens its new transmitter in Sevilla.
9 June – Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française launches Radio-Cayenne, French Guiana's first radio station, which at first broadcasts for only two hours each week.
1 September – The Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Company, Japan's first commercial radio station, begins regular broadcasts from Nagoya.
1 October – In Denmark, Statsradiofonien begins radiating Program II, a second, alternative radio service from six new medium-wave transmitters in various locations around the country. Statsradiofonien's existing long-wave service, broadcast from the Kalundborg transmitter, is known from this date as Program I.

Debuts

1 January – The Archers production series debuts on the BBC Light Programme; it will still be broadcast 65 years later as the world's longest-running radio "soap".
21 January - Mr. and Mrs. Blandings debuts on NBC.
1 April – Paul Harvey News and Comment begins its 59-year-long run on the ABC Radio Network.
7 April – Alias Jane Doe debuts on CBS.
28 May – The Goon Show is first broadcast on the BBC Home Service in the UK. The first series is entitled "Crazy People".
2 July – The New Adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future is first broadcast on Radio Luxembourg, running for 5 years.
6 July – Defense Attorney debuts on ABC.
11 July – Alan Freed, the self-proclaimed "King of the Moondoggers," launches "The Moondog House" on WJW in Cleveland, Ohio. The nighttime program, dedicated to playing rhythm and blues records, is sponsored by a local record shop owned by Leo Mintz.
18 August – ABC Dancing Party is first broadcast.
21 August – Black Night debuts on ABC.
3 October – Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator debuts on NBC.
19 October – The CBS "Eye" logo debuts on TV shows and radio printed schedules.
21 October – WLOU, Louisville completes conversion to a full-time Rhythm and Blues format which lasts until 1995.

Endings

5 January – The serial David Harum ends its run on network radio.
25 January – We, the People ends its run on network radio.
27 April – The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective ends its run on network radio.
11 May – Hannibal Cobb ends its run on network radio.
20 May – Candy Matson ends its run on network radio.
11 June – Bob Elson on Board the Century ends its run on network radio.
17 June - Mr. and Mrs. Blandings ends its run on network radio.
1 July – Charlie Wild, Private Detective ends its run on network radio.
19 July – I Fly Anything ends its run on network radio.
22 July – Meet Frank Sinatra ends its run on network radio CBS.
28 August – The Bickersons ends its run on network radio.
8 September Make Believe Town ends its run on network radio.
14 September – Death Valley Days ends its run on network radio.
15 September – The Adventures of Philip Marlowe ends its run on network radio.
22 September – Alias Jane Doe ends its run on network radio.
25 September – Black Night ends its run on network radio.
26 September – American Agent ends its run on network radio.
26 September – The Fat Man ends its run on network radio.
28 September – Screen Directors Playhouse ends its run on NBC.
19 November – The American Album of Familiar Music ends its run on network radio.
16 December – The Tom Mix Ralston Straight Shooters ends its run on network radio.
30 December – The Carnation Contented Hour ends its run on network radio.
31 December – Hashknife Hartley ends its run on network radio.

Births

12 January – Rush Limbaugh, American radio personality, conservative political commentator.
2 February – Ken Bruce, Scottish radio presenter.
1 March – Deborah Byrd, American science journalist, creator and executive producer of internationally syndicated Earth & Sky radio series.
13 March – Angelo Cataldi, sports radio personality for WIP in Philadelphia.
22 April – Irwin Chusid, journalist, music historian and New Jersey radio personality.
13 May – James Whale, English radio presenter.
22 July – Richard Bey, American television and radio talk show host.
9 August – James Naughtie, Scottish journalist and radio presenter.
27 August – Skip Bayless, American sports media personality.
20 September – John Lloyd, English comedy producer.
7 November – Tom Barnard, Minneapolis-St. Paul radio talk show host and voice-over talent.